Body of West St. Paul man pulled from Mississippi River

Man believed to have committed suicide by jumping off bridge

March 28, 2008 at 7:00PM

Authorities have identified the man whose body was found floating in the Mississippi River on Wednesday.

Robert Edward Taylor, 55, of West St. Paul, had been missing since Dec. 31 when witnesses said they saw a man jump from the Smith Avenue Bridge in St. Paul. Recovery efforts by the St. Paul Fire Department and the Sheriff's Offices of Ramsey, Washington and Dakota counties at that time were unsuccessful, said Dakota County Chief Deputy Dave Bellows.

Two fishermen spotted the body in a back bay of the river near Wentworth Avenue in South St. Paul. Authorities recovered the body and later identified the man Taylor, Bellows said.

His death is believed to be a result of suicide, but the case remains under investigation by the Dakota County Sheriff's Office and the county Coroner's Office, Bellows said.

about the writer

about the writer

Tim Harlow

Reporter

Tim Harlow covers traffic and transportation issues in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, and likes to get out of the office, even during rush hour. He also covers the suburbs in northern Hennepin and all of Anoka counties, plus breaking news and weather.

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